Crime Alerts and Advisories

The University Police Department is requesting assistance in identifying the male and female pictured in this surveillance photo taken at the Herter Hall Café on November 17, 2018. At approximately 9:11 p.m. on that date these suspects broke into a storage area and stole numerous items of value. UMPD is asking anyone with information related to the identity of these suspects to please contact UMPD at (413) 545-2121. Anonymous information can be left at (413) 577-TIPS (8477) or by using the UMPD anonymous witness form at https://www.umass.edu/umpd/anonymous-witness-form Thank you.

During the period from September 25th to October 17th, the UMPD has taken several reports of financial scams through the use of email. Students are sent emails soliciting very promising job prospects with the offer to prepay for work. Students are requested to provide personal information, including name, date of birth, address and phone number before the check is sent. In some instances, students were asked to set up an alternate email address. Once interest is confirmed, students were sent checks and asked to deposit them into their bank account and then make money transfers or purchase gift cards before the checks are confirmed as valid.
Anyone with information regarding fraudulent activity should contact UMPD Officers Bak or Fenton at (413)-545-2121.
The UMass Amherst Police Department also recommends taking the following actions if you receive these types of communications:
• Do not wire money to unknown parties
• Do not divulge any personal information via email.
• Do not meet in person with the caller/emailer under any circumstances
• Ask probing questions and gather as much information as possible
• Contact the UMass Amherst Police Department at (413) 545-2121 immediately.

On October 11, 2018 a UMass student reported being approached by two females while on one of the upper floors of the W.E.B. Du Bois Library. The females may have been requesting donations for a fundraiser called, “Child’s Joy”; it is unknown at this time if that is a legitimate charity or other concern. One of the females suspects put their arm around the student to distract the victim while the other took the student’s debit card from her wallet and quickly swiped it through a device in an apparent attempt to copy it. These actions were done without the student’s consent. The female suspects were described as approximately 25-30 years of age with black hair, possibly of Filipino descent. UMPD is also following up on a similar report that occurred in the lobby of the Integrated Learning Center on the same day and these suspects may have engaged in similar behavior in the Du Bois Library, and elsewhere on campus, in the past. Anyone with information regarding this incident or related incidents, or who may have information regarding the identities of the suspects is encouraged to contact Ofc. Alison Fenton of UMPD at (413) 545-2121 or online at http://www.umass.edu/umpd/anonymous-witness-form

There have been several reports of people accessing personal information, photos, and videos through spyware. The targeted individuals are then asked to pay money in order for their photos and videos to not be shared publicly. If money is given, they will then ask for more. If you have been a victim of this type of scam, please contact the UMass Police Department and consider bringing your computer equipment to OIT or another computer services company to have it checked for spyware.

TIPS:

* do not accept Facebook friend requests from people you do not know

* cover your computer/laptop camera when not in use

* never give money to someone who threatens to post your personal information, photos, or videos

* always contact police if you believe you are the victim of extortion

UMPD has investigated a threat referencing "Southwest". This threat is unfounded. The threat was targeting Southwest Middle School, Charlotte, North Carolina. The Charlotte Police Department has made an arrest in this case.

Update 12/8/17: UMPD would like to thank the community for their prompt responses, this person and has been identified.

UMPD is investigating several mailboxes being broken into in the Sylvan Residential Area. Within the past few weeks, multiple students have reported their mailboxes were broken into and had mail removed from them in both Brown and McNamara Residential Halls. Through the investigation of these reports, officers have captured a person of interest on the security cameras. This person has been “tailgating” students into the residence halls and does not appear to be a resident in the Sylvan area. UMPD is looking to identify the individual in the attached two photographs. Anyone with information about this person or these crimes is encouraged to contact UMPD Officer Liptak or Officer Sweet at (413) 545-2121. Anonymous information can be left at (413) 577-TIPS (8477) or by using the UMPD anonymous witness form at https://www.umass.edu/umpd/anonymous-witness-form.
UMPD is working with the UMass Residence Service Offices to have mail temporarily redirected to the mail offices so students can retrieve their mail directly.
While the responsibility for the stolen items in these cases rests solely on the perpetrator, students are reminded to not let anyone enter a residence hall behind them and request that relatives or others do not send cash in the mail.

On 9/17/2017 the UMass Police Department received a report of a theft from a motor vehicle that took place in the area of Rudd Field on Stadium Drive. The vehicle, which had the doors locked, had been accessed through an open sunroof. Items within the vehicle were stolen, including a wallet containing credit cards. One of the stolen credit cards was fraudulently used at the Target department store in Hadley, MA. UMPD is looking to identify the person of interest in the accompanying photo, taken from in-store video footage. Anyone with information regarding the individual in this photo, or any information regarding this crime, is encouraged to contact Officer Justin Green of UMPD at (413) 545-2121, the anonymous tip line at (413) 577-TIPS (8477) or by using the UMPD anonymous witness form at:
https://www.umass.edu/umpd/anonymous-witness-form.

While the responsibility for criminal behavior rests solely with the perpetrator(s), UMPD encourages our community to take the following precautions to prevent similar crimes:
- Lock your vehicle. Do not leave your vehicle unlocked, even if only for a few minutes. Be sure to check your doors, windows, sunroof, trunk, or any other access point to make sure they are secure before you leave the area.
- Do not leave valuables in your vehicle. If you must leave items in your vehicle, do not leave them in a place where they are plainly visible. Register all your valuables with UMPD's Project Protect.
- For more information please go to: https://www.umass.edu/umpd/project-protect .

UPDATE: 5/2/17 We thank the community for your assistance, a suspect has been identified.

UMPD is investigating several reports of stolen laptops and cell phones and wish to prevent additional thefts from occurring during the end of the semester. Within the past week, a number of laptops have been stolen from various residence hall rooms. On April 20th , an unlocked residence hall room was entered in Moore Hall and a Mac Pro laptop was stolen. On April 26th, an unlocked residence hall room was entered in Kennedy Hall and a Mac Pro laptop and a blue Puma bag were stolen. On April 28th , two additional rooms in Moore Hall were entered and a Mac Pro laptop was stolen from one room and a small amount of cash and a cell phone from the other. There are no suspect descriptors at this time.

While the responsibility for criminal behavior rests solely with the perpetrator(s), UMPD encourages our community to take the following precautions to prevent similar crimes:
•Do not leave your room door open or unlocked while you are away, even if only for a few minutes.
•Do not leave valuables unattended where they are easily seen and quickly taken. This applies not only to residence hall rooms but also to classrooms, the library, your car, etc.
•Register the valuables that you bring on-campus with UMPD’s Project Protect. For more information please see http://www.umass.edu/umpd/project-protect

UPDATE: 5/2/17 We thank the community for your assistance, a suspect has been identified.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst Police Department is investigating a burglary that occurred in Lewis Hall on Saturday, April 15, 2017 between 5:15pm and 5:45pm. The victims have reported their unoccupied and unlocked rooms were entered by an unknown subject. Items stolen included a silver Dell XPS 15 laptop computer, a Google Nexus cellphone and a pair of white Superstar Adidas shoes. A second room was entered by the suspect and upon seeing the room was occupied, the suspect left the area. UMPD is looking to identify the individual in the attached photos in regard to the incident. Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to contact UMPD. Anonymous information can be left at (413) 577-TIPS (8477) or by using the UMPD anonymous witness form at https://www.umass.edu/umpd/anonymous-witness-form

UMPD urges students to take precautions to avoid similar thefts, these include:

•Do not leave your room door open or unlocked while you are away, even if only for a few minutes.

•Do not leave valuables unattended where they are easily seen and quickly taken. This applies not only to residence hall rooms but also to classrooms, the library, your car, etc.

On April 11, 2017 at approximately 11:20 p.m., the University of Massachusetts Amherst Police Department responded to Coolidge Hall to investigate a bomb threat made against a student and the campus. There is no indication that anyone in or near the building was in any actual danger of being harmed. An arrest was promptly made, and the matter remains under investigation. The suspect is not a student or an employee of UMass. Details of the incident are being released in coordination with the Northwestern District Attorney’s investigation.
Abdul F. Ismail, 27, of Hadley, was arraigned today in Eastern Hampshire District Court on charges of making a bomb threat (in violation of General Laws c. 269, sec. 14) and threatening to commit a crime (in violation of General Laws c. 275, sec. 2). He was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Tuesday, April 18, 2017. He will be held at the Hampshire County House of Correction in the meantime. Ismail was arrested early on the morning of April 12 by UMass Police, assisted by Hadley Police, at Ismail’s residence in Hadley. This followed a UMass Police investigation of verbal threats Ismail allegedly made on the evening of April 11 while visiting a UMass student in Coolidge Hall. Upon hearing the threatening comments, the student escorted Ismail from the building and promptly contacted authorities. The suspect has also been immediately trespassed from the UMass campus for two years by UMass Police.

On Feburary 2, 2017 at 7:40pm UMPD was notified that a female UMass student was assaulted at approximately 2:00am that same day in Lot #22 by an unknown person. The assault consisted of a person approaching the female from behind and punching her on the side of the head, knocking her to the ground. The victim was unable to obtain any description of the person who assaulted her. The investigation is continuing, including a review of all camera footage in the area. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact UMPD Officer Chris Stechmann at (413) 545-2121. Anonymous information can be left at (413) 577-TIPS (8477) or by using the UMPD anonymous witness form at https://www.umass.edu/umpd/anonymous-witness-form.

The University of Massachusetts Police Department is investigating a theft that occurred in Cance Hall on January 25th between the hours of 11:20am and 12:15pm. The victim reported his unoccupied, unlocked room was entered by unknown subjects and numerous items were taken from the room. Items reported stolen include a black HP game computer with a red keyboard, a blue and orange bomber jacket, a black suitcase and a significant amount of cash. Police have reason to believe the suspects targeted this victim due to prior knowledge of significant cash in the room.

UMPD is requesting your assistance in identifying the individuals in the three accompanying photographs. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact UMPD Officer Lisa Billiel at (413) 545-2121; anonymous information can be left at (413) 577-TIPS (8477) or by using the UMPD anonymous witness form at https://www.umass.edu/umpd/anonymous-witness-form

UMPD encourages our community to take the following precautions to prevent similar crimes:
LOCK YOUR DOORS Do not leave your room door open or unlocked while you are away, even if only for a few minutes, and especially while you are asleep.
Do not leave valuables unattended where they are easily seen and quickly taken. This applies not only to residence halls but also to classrooms, the library, your car, etc.
Register valuables that you bring to campus with UMPD's Project Protect. For more information please see http://www.umass.edu/umpd/project-protect

On 9/17/2016 the UMass Police Department received two reports of crimes that took place overnight from 9/16 - 9/17 in the parking lots along Orchard Hill Drive.

One vehicle, which had been parked in Lot 49 by Chadbourne/Greenough in the evening hours of 9/16, had been accessed through a partially open window; a spare key kept inside allowed the suspect(s) to start the vehicle and drive it away. The vehicle was discovered missing on 9/17, and was soon after located in a nearby parking lot.

The second vehicle had been parked in Lot 49 north of Baker Hall at approximately 10:00pm on 9/16. On 9/17 the owner discovered that it had been entered through an unlocked door and that items inside, including a laptop computer, had been stolen.

Anyone with information regarding these crimes is encouraged to contact Officer David Ortiz of UMPD at (413) 545-2121, the anonymous tip line at (413) 577-TIPS (8477) or by using the UMPD anonymous witness form at: https://www.umass.edu/umpd/anonymous-witness-form.

While the responsibility for criminal behavior rests solely with the perpetrator(s), UMPD encourages our community to take the following precautions to prevent similar crimes:

LOCK YOUR VEHICLE. Do not leave your vehicle unlocked while parked, even if only for a few minutes. Be sure to check your doors, windows, and trunk to make sure they are secure before you leave the area.
Do not leave valuables in your vehicle; if you must leave items in your vehicle, do not leave them in places where they are plainly visible.
Register the valuables that you bring on-campus with UMPD's Project Protect. For more information please see https://www.umass.edu/umpd/project-protect .

On September 4, 2016 at 8:35am, the University Police Department received a report of a past indecent assault and battery that occurred during the early hours of September 3, 2016. Following an investigation UMPD arrested Samuel Texidor, age 18, of 130 St. Kolbe Drive Holyoke, MA Texidor is being charged with Indecent Assault and Battery. The investigation revealed on September 3, 2016 at approximately 3:30am Texidor approached the female victim (a current UMass student) off campus and identified himself as an UBER driver. Texidor then offered the victim a free ride from Townhouse Apartments to North Apartments, located on campus. During this drive the victim was indecently assaulted by the suspect outside of North Apartments. The victim demanded that Texidor stop the vehicle, which he did and she was able to exit at that time.
UMPD is actively investigating this case, there are indications the suspect may have approached others to offer free rides, bypassing the UBER registration process. Texidor was driving a 2014 Black Dodge Charger with Mass. Registration plates 5SV875 at the time of these incidents. Anyone with information that may relate to this type of behavior is encouraged to contact UMPD at (413)-545-2121, the anonymous tip line at (413) 577-TIPS (8477) or by using the UMPD anonymous witness form at: https://www.umass.edu/umpd/anonymous-witness-form.
The suspect was arraigned at Belchertown District Court on Tuesday September 6, 2016 and is being held without a right to bail.

The following are suggested personal safety tips:

- Verify UBER driver credentials against the confirmation you receive from the service before entering a UBER vehicle. When you're matched with a driver, you will see their name, license plate number, photo, and rating --- so you know who is picking you up.
- Customer requests via the app. is the recommended way to...

The UMass Amherst Police Department recommends you take the following actions if you receive this type of email or phone call:

Do not wire money
Do not divulge any personal information
Do not meet with the caller/emailer under any circumstances
Ask probing questions and gather as much information as possible
Contact the UMass Amherst Police Department at (413) 545-2121 immediately

We thank the community for your assistance, a suspect has been identified.

The University of Massachusetts Police Department is investigating the passing of counterfeit currency. On July 11, 2016 an individual traveled to various locations on the UMASS-Amherst campus and paid for merchandise using counterfeit bills. UMPD is looking to identify this individual in regards to the incident. If you can help identify the individual in the images below, please contact Detective Napoli at 413-545-2121 or via email at djnapoli@admin.umass.edu Anonymous tips can be called in to 413-577-TIPS (8477) or by using UMPD’s anonymous witness form at https://www.umass.edu/umpd/anonymous-witness-form

The University of Massachusetts Police Department is investigating thefts that have occurred at Sycamore Hall on May 31st and June 1st. The victims have reported their unoccupied, unlocked rooms were entered by unknown subject(s); as of this time, two rooms have been illegally entered and five individuals are reporting cash has been stolen. Anyone with information related to these crimes is encouraged to contact UMPD Officer Michael Billiel at (413) 545-2121; anonymous information can be left at (413) 577-TIPS(8477) or by using the UMPD anonymous witness form at https://www.umass.edu/umpd/anonymous-witness-form

UMPD encourages our community to take the following precautions to prevent similar crimes:
• LOCK YOUR DOORS. Do not leave your room door open or unlocked while you are away, even if only for a few minutes, and especially while you are asleep.
• Do not leave valuables unattended where they are easily seen and quickly taken. This applies not only to dorm rooms but also to classrooms, the library, your car, etc.
• Register the valuables that you bring on-campus with UMPD’s Project Protect. For more information please see http://www.umass.edu/umpd/project-protect

Update to Crime Alert: Sunday May 1, 2016 8:20pm - The third and final suspect has been identified and arrested by UMPD, thank you for your assistance. No further information is needed.

On Sunday May 1, 2016 at 4:44am UMass Amherst Police responded to a report of an aggravated burglary in progress in Washington Hall. The victims reported three masked men attempting to enter rooms on numerous floors in the hall. Upon arrival, responding officers identified and arrested two suspects as they were fleeing from a room. The third, unidentified suspect remains at large at this time. He is believed to be a white male, thin build, dark hair wearing a grey/blue hooded sweatshirt. Please see the attached photo for more information. Two of the suspects were found to have knives in their possession, however no one was threatened or physically harmed during the crime.

The UMass Police Department is investigating this crime. If you can help identify the third individual involved, please contact investigating Officer J. Minich by calling the UMass Police at 413-545-2121 or via email at jminich@admin.umass.edu Anonymous tips can also be provided by calling 413-577-TIPS (8477) or by using the UMPD anonymous witness form at https://www.umass.edu/umpd/anonymous-witness-form

Updated April 28, 2016: This case has been closed. Thank you for your assistance.

On April 18, 2016 at 10:21 pm UMass Amherst Police responded to a report of an assault and battery and unarmed, attempted robbery that occurred at 9:00 pm outside Moore Hall in the Southwest Residential Area. The victim reported he was knocked to the ground and believed the suspects were going to take cash from him but were unsuccessful when he ran from the area. No weapon was shown and the victim did not require medical attention. The description of the two suspects are one dark-skinned male with facial hair and an afro and a second male of unknown race wearing shorts, an orange hat and a brown heavy jacket with a grey jersey underneath.

The UMass Police Department is investigating this crime. If you can help identify the individuals involved, please contact investigating Officer Whelihan by calling UMass Police at 413-545-2121 or via email at kwhelihan@umass.edu Anonymous tips can be provided by calling 413-577-TIPS (8477) or by using UMPD anonymous witness form at https://www.umass.edu/umpd/anonymous-witness-form

Alert Update: April 11, 2016
These individuals have been identified, thank you for your help.

On April 8, 2016 UMPD responded to the Fine Arts Center to investigate several thefts that were reported to have occurred between 12:20pm-12:40pm. Officers learned that numerous items were stolen from unattended backpacks left in the building. During the follow-up investigation UMPD reviewed video surveillance footage and is looking to question two individuals in regard to the thefts. It was later discovered that these same individuals are also suspects in a breaking and entering to a motor vehicle in the Town of Amherst where a debit card was stolen and fraudulently used. At this time the Amherst and UMass Police Departments are investigating these crimes. If you can help identify the individuals in the images below, please contact investigating Officers Griffin or Chapman by calling UMass Police at 413-545-2121 or via email at tgriffin@umass.edu or wchapman@umass.edu.
Anonymous tips can be called in to 413-577-TIPS (8477) or by using UMPD’s anonymous witness form at https://www.umass.edu/umpd/anonymous-witness-form

Unsecured, unattended backpacks and vehicles allowed these thieves to take property. Please secure your valuables to help deter criminals, and if you see something, say something!
CA: 03-16-7798

The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. This includes requests for PIN numbers, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts.

If you receive an email that you feel is fraudulent, do not open any attachments or respond in any way. Visit the following websites to find out what steps you can take:

The University of Massachusetts Police Department has received a report of a sexual assault that is reported to have taken place at approximately 1am in the area of the Studio Arts Building on North Pleasant Street.

The victim stated that she was walking in the area of the north side of the Studio Arts Building, by the construction site, when she was joined by an unidentified male. This male individual walked with her briefly, then pushed her to the ground and sexually assaulted her.

The suspect is described as college-aged, wearing casual clothing. There is no further identifying information available at this time. Anyone with information related to this crime is encouraged to contact UMPD at (413) 545-2121; anonymous information can be left at (413) 577-TIPS or online at: http://www.umass.edu/umpd/anonymous-witness-form.

UMPD advises our community to always be safety-minded, and offers the following tips for safety on campus:

When you go out, let a friend or roommate know where you will be and when you will return.
Avoid walking alone at night. If you feel unsafe, use the Walking Escort Service, available from 7pm to 3am each night during the academic semester. Call (413) 545-2123 to make arrangements for a walking escort.
If you are out after dark, use only well-lit routes. Walk near the curb and avoid passing close to shrubs, dark doorways, and other hiding places.
Be alert and trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable about someone near you, head for a populated area.
Make note of the location of HELP phones (blue-light phones) in your immediate area.
Report suspicious activity to the police.

The University of Massachusetts Police Department has been informed that the Amherst Police Department is investigating an alleged armed robbery that took place earlier this evening.

The alleged incident took place at Puffton Village Apartments which are located north of the UMass-Amherst campus, adjacent to North Village Apartments. It is reported that the victim exited a bus and was approached by two male individuals, dressed all in black. These individuals displayed a gun and demanded money. At this time there is no reason to believe that an imminent risk exists for the UMass community; police are patrolling the area and the Amherst Police Detective Bureau is continuing the investigation.

Anyone with information related to this investigation should contact the Amherst Police Department, Detective Bureau, at (413) 259-3000.

The Amherst Police Department is investigating an alleged off-campus armed robbery in the area of Brandywine Apartments, located off of Meadow Street, north of UMass-Amherst. It is alleged that a gun was shown during the commission of the crime; that information is unconfirmed as of this time. The Massachusetts State Police and the UMass-Amherst Police Departments have offered support to this investigation. At this time there is no reason to believe that an imminent risk exists for our community, and police are actively patrolling our area. This information will be updated as the investigation continues.

Anyone with information related to this investigation should contact the Amherst Police Department at (413) 259-3000.

On Saturday, September 12, 2015 at approximately 7:50pm a female student reported to the University Police that she was in the area of Washington Hall when she was approached by three males, one asking if they could use her cell phone. After providing her phone, one male ran from the area with the phone still in his possession. The other two other males then also left the area, all three running up Fearing Street toward Sunset Avenue. An immediate area check by UMPD resulted in no further identification of the males.

The victim provided the police with the following description of the suspect who had stolen the phone: a light-skinned black male, not yet college age, 5'5" tall with an average body type, dark hair of average length and cut, clean shaven, wearing grayish Nike sneakers with an orange swoosh. A second female on Fearing Street observed the males and described them as approximately 16 years of age.

The University of Massachusetts Police Department is investigating a burglary that occurred in Washington Hall in the early morning hours on 5/1/2015. The victim stated that his room was entered by an unknown subject and his wallet was stolen from within.Both the victim and his roommate were in the room, sleeping, at the time of the theft. The victim woke up to find the subject in his room but believed that it might be a friend coming by to retrieve something; he later discovered that his wallet had been stolen. The door to the room was unlocked at the time the crime occurred. The only description of the suspect, as provided by the victim, is: white male, approximately 5'10" - 6'tall, with brown hair. Anyone with information related to this crime is encouraged to contact Officer Fisher at (413) 545-2121;anonymous information can be left at (413) 577-TIPS(8477). UMPD encourages our community to take the following precautions to prevent similar crimes: •LOCK YOUR DOORS. Do not leave your dorm room door open or unlocked while you are away, even if only for a few minutes, and especially while you are asleep. •Do not leave valuables unattended where they are easily seen and quickly taken. This applies not only to dorm rooms but also to classrooms, the library, your car, etc. •Register the valuables that you bring on-campus with UMPD’s Project Protect. For more information please see http://www.umass.edu/umpd/project-protect

UMPD supports UMassIT efforts in protecting your information. In a March 7th message to the campus UMassIT encouraged account holders to change their NetID password. If you have not done so since receiving that message, please change your password now. Thank you in advance.

For questions, contact the IT Help Center (it@umass.edu) or the IT professional in your department, as applicable.

CHANGE YOUR NETID PASSWORD

(Optional) If you are using Microsoft Exchange and have your email set up on your tablet or mobile devices, power off your devices.
On the UMass Amherst homepage (top right corner), click SPIRE.
Log in to SPIRE with your NetID and password.
In SPIRE, click Main Menu > IT Accounts > My IT Accounts.
On the Account List page, click the name of an IT Account (e.g., chelaru).
On the Account Detail page, in the lower right corner, click Change Password.
Follow the instructions to change your password. Be sure to click Change IT Password at the bottom of the page. This will change your password for UMail, Apps at UMass Amherst, Library, Human Resources, and other campus services. To connect to the eduroam wireless network, you may have to run the XpressConnect setup wizard again. Note: If your Exchange email and workstation login password has been reset, you will see a message that your AD/Exchange account password has also been changed.
(Exchange Users) Confirm that you can log in to Exchange with the new password at exchange.umass.edu. Next, turn your mobile devices on one by one and change the password for the email account as prompted.

The University of Massachusetts Police Department has received a report from a resident student that a laptop computer was stolen from her residence in Kennedy Hall on Friday, January 30. The resident stated that she had left her room to visit friends between approximately 9:00pm and 10:00pm, and had left her room door open while she was gone. The stolen laptop is described as a silver MacBook Air. The investigation is continuing.

Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to contact UMPD at (413) 545-2121; anonymous information can be left at (413) 577-TIPS.

UMPD urges students to take precautions to avoid similar thefts. These include:

Do not leave your dorm room door open or unlocked while you are away, even if only for a few minutes.
Do not leave valuables unattended where they are easily seen and quickly taken. This applies not only to dorm rooms but also to classrooms, the library, your car, etc.
Register the valuables that you bring on-campus with UMPD’s Project Protect. For more information please see http://www.umass.edu/umpd/project-protect

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is aware of multiple scams targeting universities, university employees, and students across the nation. The scams range from Internet fraud to intrusions. The following are common scenarios:

Spear phishing e-mails are being sent to university employees that appear to be from their employer. The e-mail contains a link and claims some type of issue has risen requiring them to enter their log-in credentials. Once employees provide their user name and password, the perpetrator accesses the university’s computer system to redirect the employees’ payroll allocation to another bank account. The university employees’ payroll allocations are being deposited into students’ accounts. These students were hired through online advertisements for work-at-home jobs, and provided their bank account information to the perpetrators to receive payment for the work they performed.
Scammers are posting online advertisements soliciting college students for administrative positions in which they would receive checks via the mail or e-mail. Students are directed to deposit the checks into their accounts, and then print checks and/or wire money to an individual. Students are never asked to provide their bank account information to the perpetrators.
Perpetrators are compromising students’ credential resulting in the rerouting of their reimbursement money to other bank accounts. The reimbursement money is from student loans and used to pay tuition, books, and living expenses.
Perpetrators are obtaining professors’ Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and using it to file fraudulent income tax returns.
Some universities have been victims of intrusions, resulting in the perpetrators being able to access university databases containing information on their employees and students.

If you have been a victim of one of these scams or any other Internet related scam, we encourage you to file a complaint with the IC3 at...

College students across the United States have been targeted to participate in work-from-home scams. Students have been receiving e-mails to their school accounts recruiting them for payroll and/or human resource positions with fictitious companies. The "position" simply requires the student to provide his/her bank account number to receive a deposit and then transfer a portion of the funds to another bank account. Unbeknownst to the student, the other account is involved in the scam that the student has now helped perpetrate. The funds the student receives and is directed elsewhere have been stolen by cyber criminals. Participating in the scam is a crime and could lead to the student’s bank account being closed due to fraudulent activity or federal charges. Here’s how the scam works:

 The student is asked to provide his/her bank account credentials under the guise of setting up direct deposit for his/her pay.
 The scammers will add the student’s bank account to a victim employee’s direct deposit information to redirect the victim’s payroll deposit to the student’s account.
 The student will receive the payroll deposit from the victim’s employer in the victim’s name.
 The student will be directed to withdraw funds from the account and send a portion of the deposit, via wire transfer, to other individuals involved in the scam. Consequences of Participating in the Scam:
The student’s bank account will be identified by law enforcement as being involved in the fraud. 
The victim employee has his/her pay stolen by the scammers utilizing the student’s bank account. 
Without the student’s participation, the scam could not be perpetrated, so he/she facilitated the theft of the paycheck.
The student could be arrested and prosecuted in federal court. A criminal record will stay with the student for the rest of his/her life and will have to be divulged on future job applications, which could prevent the student from beomg hired.
The...

The UMPD has received four reports from residents of the John Adams residence hall regarding a male who has been looking at female residents while they have been showering. The first incident occurred in September and was treated as an isolated incident. More recent reports have been filed and the UMPD is notifying the campus community to ensure your safety. Reports allege a white male has been seen looking, or attempting to look under the shower partitions on the third and sixth floor facilities. One incident describes the male as a college aged white male, dark hair, baseball cap on backwards, gray t-shirt, teal shorts and teal Sperry canvas boat shoes. Another incident describes the male as a white male with a blue checkered shirt and blue jeans lying on the ground. Two women report seeing a black iPhone under the partition which is believed by them to have taken pictures or video. The UMPD is actively investigating these incidents and is encouraging any resident to immediately report suspicious behavior to the police. Female residents are advised to remain aware of their surroundings and to contact the UMPD if they observe or are aware of similar situations. UMPD may be contacted at 545-2121 or online at http://www.umass.edu/umpd/anonymous-witness-form

On 10/17/14 the University of Massachusetts Police Department received a report of a stolen motor vehicle that had been parked in Lot 22 in the Southwest area of campus. The vehicle's owner stated that the vehicle had been locked and no keys had been left inside. The investigation is ongoing. There are no suspects at this time.

UMPD encourages all of our community members to take the following precautions to keep their vehicles and belongings safe:

Lock your doors and close your windows when you leave your vehicle. This simple precaution is often the most overlooked.

Do not leave "spare" car keys in or around your vehicle. As convenient as it may be to have a "spare key" kept with your vehicle in the event that you lose your main key, this is also convenient to those who are looking to steal your car.

Do not leave valuables in your vehicle. Even if you are only leaving your vehicle parked for a "little while", valuable items such as laptops, wallets, purses and cell phones serve to make your vehicle a more desirable target for thieves.

Anyone with information related to this motor vehicle theft is encouraged to contact the UMPD at 413-545-2121 or anonymously at 413-577-TIPS.

On Monday September 22, 2014 the following incident was reported to UMPD: During the early morning hours of Sunday, 09-21-2014, a college aged male approached a group of students by the Fine Arts Center and threatened to assault several members of the group. It was reported that this male then bit a member of the group on the neck.

This male is described as having a light brown complexion, approximately 5'10" with dark hair and a chin strap style beard. He was wearing a flat brimmed green Celtics hat, blue flannel button up shirt, white undershirt, and blue jeans.

Anyone with information that could be helpful is encouraged to contact UMPD at (413)-577-8477, or use our online Anonymous Witness Form.

On Sept. 6, 2014 the University Police Department issued a Crime Alert seeking information on a person of interest who was allegedly engaged in harassing behavior toward women on a PVTA bus. This person has been positively identified and the investigation is continuing. Thank you for your assistance in this investigation.

Original Crime Alert:

The University of Massachusetts Police Department is seeking to identify an individual who allegedly engaged in harassing behavior towards women on a PVTA bus on Thursday night (9/4/2014). Anyone with information that could be helpful is encouraged to contact UMPD at (413) 577-8477, or use our online Anonymous Witness Form.

Suspect in custody for Lincoln Ave. Breaking & Entering.Incident at Lincoln Apts remains under investigation. See email for further update. Continue to use caution, lock doors and windows. Contact UMPD with any information related to the Lincoln Apts. investigation. Inquiries related to the breaking and entering on Lincoln Ave. should be referred to Amherst Police.

On Wednesday August 27, 2014 at 2:40pm the UMass Amherst Police Department obtained an arrest warrant and was assisted by the Greenfield Police Department with placing Christopher M. Williams of 17 Avenue C, Apt. #2 Montague, Mass. under arrest for two counts of Open and Gross Lewdness. Mr. Williams was arrested without incident. On Wednesday August 20, 2014 on two separate occasions Mr. Williams is alleged to have driven his gold-colored, older model Honda Civic into UMass Amherst parking lots and exposed himself while masturbating in the presence of two female UMass students. An intensive, weeklong investigation by the officers led to suspect Williams, who was arraigned in Greenfield District Court on Thursday August 28, 2014. Chief Horvath praised the work of the investigators, “Officers had very limited information at the outset of this investigation and only after their exhaustive work were they able to zero in and identify this person. It was critical that we moved swiftly and remained diligent in this case to prevent a continuation of the activity or an escalation of his behavior.” Any questions related to this case can be directed to the UMass Amherst Police Department, Chief's Office at 413-545-2125.

The UMass Amherst Police Department recommends you take the following actions if you receive this type of email or phone call:

Do not wire money;
Do not divulge any personal information;
Do not meet with the caller under any circumstances;
Ask probing questions and gather as much information as possible;
Contact the UMass Amherst Police Department at (413) 545-2121 immediately

Occurred 4/30/14 from the Dubois Library. Two related thefts of victims unattended property. Suspect is described as a white male, approx. 6’3”, college aged, black hair with a buzz cut, dark clothing, sweat pants, and with a black backpack. Students are urged to use caution and secure all valuables and not leave them unattended.